![Astrophysicist](/public/content/career_463_image_hero.png)
Astrophysicists know the answers to some of the great questions of outer space: How fast do comets travel? Is the universe expanding or contracting? Will the next Star Wars movie be any good? Well, they can answer the first two anyway. The point is, these are some brilliant people, observing the vastness of space using high-powered telescopes and satellites, then writing theories based on their observations. They work for universities, research facilities, and the government, and have access to the best scientific equipment in the world. If you want to join them in tackling the big questions of the universe, be prepared for lots of math and science classes, and many years in college to get your advanced degree. And hey—if the force is out there, you can bet it’ll be an astrophysicist who finds it.
The Details
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
![](/public/images/icons/icon-social-impact.png)
Quite simply (and profoundly), astrophysicists help people understand the great mysteries of the universe.
![](/public/images/icons/icon-career-fact.png)
Astrophysicists can be celebrities, too—Neil deGrasse Tyson is the head of the Hayden Planetarium in New York City, and he’s basically become an astrophysics rockstar thanks to his TV shows and massive Twitter following.